Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik developing 6x6 and 8x8 armoured vehicles

Namibian company Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik (WMF) is busy developing a 6x6 armoured recovery vehicle and an 8x8 armoured vehicle and has put its new Mk III armoured personnel carrier into production.

Magarete van Niekerk, the Sales and Marketing representative for Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik, told defenceWeb that the Mk II vehicle underwent testing last year, including blast tests that involved a 14 kg explosive detonating under the rear of the vehicle, 14 kg under the driver and 21 kg under the body. Development and testing of the Mk II has been completed while the Mk III is still undergoing testing. The Mk II is in production while the Mk III will soon enter production.

The Mk III was mainly aimed at the civil security, border patrol and special forces markets, but can be customized to suit other critical mission requirements as well. The Mk III was unveiled at the Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition in Pretoria during September last year. The Mk III, designed by Andre van Eeden, Manager: Design & Quality at WMF, features B6 mine and ballistic protection and is based on Iveco driveline components and service infrastructure.

The Mk III has been designed in a modular fashion so that it can be adapted for various missions and body layouts such as ambulance, mobile workshop and logistics. It is powered by a 6 cylinder Euro III diesel engine. The vehicle’s mass is 8 600 kg empty and gross vehicle mass is 14 000 kg. Maximum speed is around 110 km/h. The Namibian government is currently approving an export contract for the vehicle.

WMF is currently in the process of developing the 6x6 recovery version and an 8x8 version of the Mk III. Design of the latter may be finished next year while the recovery version will be completed in June or July 2016.

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WMF’s other armoured vehicles, the Werewolf Mk I and Mk II, weight 13 tons while the new Mk III weights around nine tons and can accommodate two plus eight people.

van Niekerk also informed defenceWeb that the company is working on a completely new vehicle for the Namibia Defence Force. This will be a light armoured vehicle with protection level of 1 or 2 for operation in wet areas.